Medellin Reports

[QUOTE=BayMonger;2326565]Great advice. Would you recommend I stay all 11 nights at the same place in Laureles? I kinda wanted to break it up into 2 spots for the trip.[/QUOTE]I would not recommend staying in Laureles for your entire trip. Laureles is very nice, and a lot of the gringos you will see there live there with some tourists staying there as well. I suspect you will get board there after a few days and would recommend you spend some of your time near Parque Lleras. I personally don't like it there, however there are some very nice surrounding barrios such as Provenza which is the next block up the hill from Parque Lleras. A very upscale area with lots of bars and restaurants frequented by young wealthy Colombians and a mixture of gringos who live in the surrounding areas. Additionally there are other barrios you can easily walk to with lots of very good restaurants in the Patio Bonito, Astorga, La Linde and Manilla barrios all within a ten minute radius of Parque Lleras. The cost of food and drink in the restaurants immediately around Parque Lleras will not be significantly more than most of the places in Laureles, however there are some very upscale restaurants in the surrounding areas I mentioned which are expensive. As far as women in Parque Lleras, they will be out later in the evenings walking around the area and if your older with gray hair and seem to be a gringo you may be approached by them. They will be easy to spot and typically will be closer to thirty versus twenty and mostly well dressed. Typically in the bars immediately surrounding Parque LLeras you will also see a lots of Colombian women having drinks with their girlfriends. If your good looking, have game, and are fluent in Spanish you may score. Again I don't like the Parque Lleras vibe, however I do eat in the upscale restaurants in the barrios I mentioned with friends because the food is good but don't monger there as the opportunities aren't worth it. You still may want to consider a few days in El Centro but it will be way different than Laureles or Parque LLeras and way cheaper. Have a good time!

OK guys, I give up. Help!

I'm mostly only into good massages with spectacular endings. Secret and Oriental Spa let me down sorely. Both were comparatively expensive 90.000 - 120.000 for an hour with mediocre women. Too much for what I got. I'm willing to go most anywhere in Medellin that's relatively safe. Unfortunately, that may leave out El Centro during the week since. I go to language school and don't get out until 4. I don't want to visit El Centro at night, at least until I know it better.

[QUOTE=RudeBwoy100;2326850]I'm a solo monger (very anti social, recluse, hermit, whatever you want to call it), how is the mongering scene like in Park Lleras; are there casas, strip clubs, massage parlours there & short time hotels there? Also what are the prices?[/QUOTE]Answer is no to all your questions. There are freelancers around the park later at night (usually after 10 pm). A majority are below average in looks. Because of so much rain at night recently, free are out walking.

[QUOTE=Magaman;2326720]What's a good foot massage go for? I'm not sure I can give up 250 baht foot massages.[/QUOTE]I don't know. I've never seen the point in just getting my feet massaged. Full body massages run from 40-70 k for 1 hour. Anything extra, if offered would be extra charge.

[QUOTE=Knowledge;2326808]It is also a place where people can reconnect to the prices of home. It is why the places slightly off the beaten track that cater to locals and charge local prices (E. G. Mondongos) are always packed to the gills, but you can always get a table at Basilica / Al Rojo.[/QUOTE]Although Thaico has all their menu items at half price during daytime. 13 k and they give you a lot of food.

No its not like Laureles. In contrast to Poblado, it is the place the real, not pretending, upper-middle class people live. Good restaurants and decent people, but not for mongering.

[QUOTE=IamLookin;2326896]Hi Blue Touch, I heard that Evigado is very nice. Can you give us some detail? Is it like Laureles? What it the atmosphere like? Chica places?

Thanks.[/QUOTE].

[QUOTE=Surfer500;2326921]Typically in the bars immediately surrounding Parque LLeras you will also see a lots of Colombian women having drinks with their girlfriends. If your good looking, have game, and are fluent in Spanish you may score.[/QUOTE]You forgot to add if you can talk and listen over that loud ass music.

[QUOTE=Combo;2326491]I don't know the technical boundaries, but I'd guess Cra 44 and CL 44 and a bit up the hill from there. Cuidado.[/QUOTE]Thanks, yes I know the area a little as it is just a stone throw away from the calf area, it is on San Juan but up the hill like you mention, I will check it out this week and see what I find. Gawd I am turning into a pervert, hehehe.

The Tall Man.

While I'm not a huge Lleras fan, I did go there a couple of nights with my chicas to Shupa Shots. Several street walkers seem to congregate around that area. One block from the park. Corner of Calle 10 and Cra. 38. Some look pretty good. But some look a little young. Check cedulas. Others might differ in opinion, but if you are a gringo walking around alone in Lleras, try to avoid talking to girls in the park itself. The cops look down on that and may well stop you and hassle you a bit. Go on the side streets. They (the chicas) will find you.

On a related note, on the way from Lleras to my apartment, our Uber got stopped by a roadside police check. I think this was my third or fourth time being involved in a stop. If you are new and this happens to you, don't panic (unless you have something illegal on you). They really had no interest in me. They asked to see my passport. I pulled out the copy and they did not even bother to look at it. They were much more concerned about checking the driver and the two girls. Cedulas, pat-down for drugs or weapons, and confirming that their cell phones were not stolen property. Ultimately let us go without issue. Just a hassle.

[QUOTE=FunLuvr;2327005]Answer is no to all your questions. There are freelancers around the park later at night (usually after 10 pm). A majority are below average in looks. Because of so much rain at night recently, free are out walking.[/QUOTE]

I've stayed at Envigado multiple times before and enjoyed the area and atmosphere. It's definitely less gringo than Poblado, but only about 10 minute cab ride south. It is middle class and has a significant retiree population. It's not a mongering hunting ground, which is why I like it. Great place to stay if you are looking for some non pro action. Stay near Parque Envigado, lots of great restaurants in the Jardines neighborhood and the Bota is Envigado's zona rosa, sorta like mini-Lleras, but without the gringos and the rip off pricing. If you want to go even more local, head a little further south to Sabaneta especially Parque Sabaneta which is a great place to people watch.

[QUOTE=IamLookin;2326896]Hi Blue Touch, I heard that Evigado is very nice. Can you give us some detail? Is it like Laureles? What it the atmosphere like? Chica places?

Thanks.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=ColombiaLover;2327027]While I'm not a huge Lleras fan, I did go there a couple of nights with my chicas to Shupa Shots. Several street walkers seem to congregate around that area. One block from the park. Corner of Calle 10 and Cra. 38. Some look pretty good. But some look a little young. Check cedulas. Others might differ in opinion, but if you are a gringo walking around alone in Lleras, try to avoid talking to girls in the park itself. The cops look down on that and may well stop you and hassle you a bit. Go on the side streets. They (the chicas) will find you.

On a related note, on the way from Lleras to my apartment, our Uber got stopped by a roadside police check. I think this was my third or fourth time being involved in a stop. If you are new and this happens to you, don't panic (unless you have something illegal on you). They really had no interest in me. They asked to see my passport. I pulled out the copy and they did not even bother to look at it. They were much more concerned about checking the driver and the two girls. Cedulas, pat-down for drugs or weapons, and confirming that their cell phones were not stolen property. Ultimately let us go without issue. Just a hassle.[/QUOTE]What is the price range there?

[QUOTE=JjBee62;2327006]I don't know. I've never seen the point in just getting my feet massaged. Full body massages run from 40-70 k for 1 hour. Anything extra, if offered would be extra charge.[/QUOTE]You've obviously never been to Thailand. I became a huge fan of footies in Thailand.

[QUOTE=Surfer500;2326921]I would not recommend staying in Laureles for your entire trip. Laureles is very nice, and a lot of the gringos you will see there live there with some tourists staying there as well. I suspect you will get board there after a few days and would recommend you spend some of your time near Parque Lleras. I personally don't like it there, however there are some very nice surrounding barrios such as Provenza which is the next block up the hill from Parque Lleras. A very upscale area with lots of bars and restaurants frequented by young wealthy Colombians and a mixture of gringos who live in the surrounding areas. Additionally there are other barrios you can easily walk to with lots of very good restaurants in the Patio Bonito, Astorga, La Linde and Manilla barrios all within a ten minute radius of Parque Lleras. The cost of food and drink in the restaurants immediately around Parque Lleras will not be significantly more than most of the places in Laureles, however there are some very upscale restaurants in the surrounding areas I mentioned which are expensive. As far as women in Parque Lleras, they will be out later in the evenings walking around the area and if your older with gray hair and seem to be a gringo you may be approached by them.[/QUOTE]Thank you for this. I will take your advice. And stay closer to Lleras, but in a nearby neighborhood.

Now this begs the question. Do I fly to Bogota for a few days instead? Or save it for the next trip? This is my first time to Colombia. Seasoned monger with decent Spanish skills.

I have 11 nights. Was going to do only Medellín but maybe I sneak away to Bogota for a few days?

[QUOTE=Combo;2326491]I don't know the technical boundaries, but I'd guess Cra 44 and CL 44 and a bit up the hill from there. Cuidado.[/QUOTE][QUOTE=TheTallMan;2327026]Thanks, yes I know the area a little as it is just a stone throw away from the calf area, it is on San Juan but up the hill like you mention, I will check it out this week and see what I find. Gawd I am turning into a pervert, hehehe.

The Tall Man.[/QUOTE]Combo, about an hour after I responded to this post yesterday evening I figured what the hell go check it out, so 30 minutes later (Sunday night about 9 PM) I drove those blocks around Cr 44 and CL 44 and although this area does have some possibilities the main issue is that this area is filled with residential apartments and houses which is why the "calf area" just 4 blocks away is so much more attractive to the street walkers as it is located in a commercial / industrial area, when the sun goes down and the businesses (ie car mechanic shops and metal fabrication and car dealerships) roll down their metal doors shut the complete area is transformed into a very sketchy area ripe for late night fun.

After I finished my "tour" I headed to the calf area and found my 18 yo cutie that spent the night with me last week, she was more than ready and willing to hope in my car. She was looking so cute wearing those short cut-off jeans and ambercrombie and fitch halter top so I scoped her up and off to the love motel 8 minutes away.

The Tall Man.

[QUOTE=TheTallMan;2327311]Combo, about an hour after I responded to this post yesterday evening I figured what the hell go check it out, so 30 minutes later (Sunday night about 9 PM) I drove those blocks around Cr 44 and CL 44 and although this area does have some possibilities the main issue is that this area is filled with residential apartments and houses which is why the "calf area" just 4 blocks away is so much more attractive to the street walkers as it is located in a commercial / industrial area, when the sun goes down and the businesses (ie car mechanic shops and metal fabrication and car dealerships) roll down their metal doors shut the complete area is transformed into a very sketchy area ripe for late night fun.

After I finished my "tour" I headed to the calf area and found my 18 yo cutie that spent the night with me last week, she was more than ready and willing to hope in my car. She was looking so cute wearing those short cut-off jeans and ambercrombie and fitch halter top so I scoped her up and off to the love motel 8 minutes away.

The Tall Man.[/QUOTE]Nice. I will have to check out your area next visit. Although, I don't have the luxury of having my own car in MDE. I've had a taxi driver take me around some areas, including Niquitao, late at night with some luck. Also a bit closer to San Diego and some areas around Centro. I'm generally more up-market (I actually like Poblado as well as Laureles), but sometimes it's a thrill to check out the creepier areas! With patience, it can be rewarding.